Whenever the name Dr. Noli Fortades is mentioned, it rings
a bell to most Buluseños especially those who know him personally
or even those who have only heard about him.

He is equally popular among his peers in the medical
profession in the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon and in other
social circles that he is in.He is also close to people from all walks of life and is
well loved by his patients at his clinic in Legaspi City.

It’s all because he is very pleasant to talk with, has
always a ready smile for everyone, charming and accommodating.They feel at ease and comfortable with him as he is a real
gentleman and a very friendly doctor.

Although an EENT specialist, Dr. Fortades does not charge
exorbitant fee like other doctors with the same expertise.For Buluseños, consultation with him is free and even to
others who really cannot afford due to extreme poverty but in need
of his services.

What endears him more to others is his sincerity and
honesty in dealing with people - rich or poor, professional or
not.Despite his
social prominence, he is an epitome of humility and has deep
concern for the masses.

This is proven by his regular attendance in the yearly
civic action in Bulusan.Despite
the long distance that he has to travel from Legaspi City, he does
not mind it at all.It's because he knows his indigent townmates are anxiously
waiting for him.They
are in need of his services.

Dr. Fortades is not only concerned for the health of his
kababayans.It is
also his earnest desire to improve the lives of families in
far-flung barangays who are wallowing in poverty.To help alleviate their situations, he sends their talented
children to college in Legaspi City so they could support their
families when they become professionals.

He has his way of support them in their pursuit of higher
education without making them totally dependent on him, thus
enabling them to finish their courses with dignity.He takes them in as household and clinic assistants while
he shoulders all their expenses in school and other allowances.Once they have graduated and have found jobs fitting for
their professions, he lets go of them. Then he takes in another
batch of high school graduates from the poorest of the poor
families.As of now,
he has already made many professionals in the fields of
engineering, architecture, education, accountancy, and other
courses.

His generosity does not end there.He is always in full support of the projects being
undertaken in his home barangay of Buhang, Bulusan.To further help in their fundraising in the benefit dance
during their fiesta celebration which is usually done in pompous
style, he declines the free entrance at the gate given as a matter
of courtesy to him.Instead,
he does not only pay for his ticket but also for his friends who
could not get in because of the high-ticket cost.Not only do hisfriends
enjoy the free entrance but also their tables, drinks, pulutans,
and the hug and dance with the sexy ladies around.

Despite the high admiration accorded to him by different
sectors of the society, it never made him swellheaded.Dr. Fortades remains a very simple and humble man.With such admirable qualities in him, he was an excellent
material for an elective position in the government during his
younger years.But no
amounts of proddings from known political leaders could convince
him to enter the political ring.Had he consented to run for public office then, most
probably he would now be holding a high position as a public
servant.But then
again, politics is not really his cup of tea.

Dr. Fortades could have made himself a rich man if he took
advantage of his profession as an EENT specialist and thought only
of himself and his family.But,
to accumulate wealth at the expense of the people he has sworn to
serve is farthest from his mind.To him, whatever little thing that comes to him is a
blessing from God which should be shared with others especially
those who have less in life to improve their living conditions.

His attitude has alrady been like this ever since
childhood.His
friends could not come up with any negative comments about him.They say he was already very friendly even to new
acquaintances.Although
he belonged to a well-off family in their barangay, he has shown
already his closeness to his poor playmates.

Though he is popularly known as Noli, his real name is
Elino - the second child of the late couple Mr. Pedro Fortades, a
public school teacher, and the former Sophia Guysayko, both of
Barangay Buhang.He
is married to the former Marisol Arnedo of Sorsogon City, a nurse
now based in the USA.The
couple has five children:Minerva,
a doctor of optometry; Marita, a doctor of medicine; Raul, a
medical technologist; Rommel, a civil engineer with a master's
degree in civil engineering; and Marian Grace, a nurse.

If only people with the same stature as Dr. Fortades would
adopt his principles and philosophy in life, there will be no
peace and order problems in our community which are mainly caused
by greed for power and wealth.

To DR. NOLI G. FORTADES, we salute you.You are a rare breed of a man who will leave a very
wonderful legacy truly worth emulating by the generations yet to
come.